Facebook is Coming Up with a New Algorithm for Smoother 360 Video Viewing

Facebook is announcing that it’s developed a new system for stabilizing 360-degree video and that it’s starting to test the system before rolling it out to all users on Facebook and its Oculus virtual reality platform.

The stabilization software reduces the bit rate by 10 to 20 percent while maintaining video quality, and it takes just 22 milliseconds per frame.

“This approach uses a new ‘deformed-rotation’ motion model that we designed specifically for 360 video, and a new hybrid 3D-2D technique for optimizing the model parameters in order to make shaky 360 videos incredibly smooth,” Facebook research scientist Johannes Kopf wrote today in a blog post.

The new system makes it simpler to speed up video that’s been stabilized. Facebook has a dedicated hyperlapse algorithm now, Kopf wrote. Over time Facebook will “incorporate the new hyperlapse adaptation into the functionality we offer,” he said.

He further added, “As we test this new technology, we’re listening to feedback on how it works. We hope to make it available to everyone who uploads a 360 video, so people can even more easily share high-quality and easy-to-watch immersive moments with their friends. We’ll also work to incorporate the new hyperlapse adaptation into the functionality we offer, and looking further ahead, we’re interested in exploring the possible applications of our new stabilization tech for live 360 video.”

Curious, Keen Observant & Dynamic! Chinmay finds peace in meeting people who work hard for humanity. He has new found interest in Gadgets and Techs and at Techstory he gets to learn and write about it!